The Wheel of the Year: Imbolc and Its Lore

Imbolc, also known as Oimelc, the feast of Bride, and Candlemas, takes place around February 1st and is the first day of spring in the Pagan calendar. The first signs of life are seen returning to the earth, the sheep are in lamb, and spring will soon be evident.

Imbolc is also the feast of the Irish Fire Goddess Bride (pronounced "Bre-ed"), known as "Brigantia" to the Celtic Britons; the name evolved into "Bridget" when she was Christianized.

The Themes and Practices of Imbolc

Imbolc is the first rite of spring. The dark of winter is in the past and now the Goddess takes on the robes of the Maiden and the God is seen as a young boy, ready and eager to explore the world. This is a time of initiations, and many Wiccan groups will initiate new members on this day.

There are many ways to celebrate the season of Imbolc. Black or dark red candles (for the Goddess as Wise One) and white candles (for the Goddess as Maiden) can be lit. This can be a part of a greater ritual, or simply a rite of its own. Golden candles, if they can be found, are sometimes used to represent the God as a young boy; otherwise, light green is appropriate. Time should be spent thinking about the season to come as the candles burn down.

An alternative is to make some ice, a large piece if possible, and hold it above a bowl of warm (not boiling) water. After considering what the coming of spring represents, the ice can be dropped into the water. It will slowly melt, which is a representation of how slowly spring comes after a long, cold winter. Once the ice is fully melted and the water has warmed to a reasonable temperature, it can be poured on a favorite plant, indoors or outdoors.

As a part of the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc is the time when the Goddess reawakens after her long slumber in Wiccan lore. She is energized and ready to bring warmth back to the Earth.

Some symbols associated with the Winter Solstice include:

• Purification
• Initiation
• Healing
• Candles and fire

The Feast of Imbolc

People of old would have been would have been glad of this season, for there is suddenly some food available that is not preserved from the previous fall. There are many dishes that are appropriate for Imbolc.

Some of these popular Imbolc dishes include:

• Butterflied Lamb
• Young fresh vegetables
• Omelets
• Quiche
• Pancakes
• Champagne jelly
• Frozen fruit bombe
• Candle cake

Beverages for Imbolc

The drinks should represent the freshness of the season and should be full of life and enthusiasm. Champagne is ideal, but sparkling white wine, lemonade or mineral water are all suitable alternatives. Sparkling water is very appropriate, as this is the time when the spring thaw commences and ice-cold bubbling water would have been one time when of the signs in some regions. As mineral water is not most people’s idea of a celebratory drink, try adding a squeeze of fresh juice, such as lemon, orange, lime or grapefruit, white grape or apple.

As the weather is still not warm in early February, at least is the northern hemisphere, fruit teas are also good at this season and can be chosen for either their properties or taste.

Celebrating Imbolc

At Imbolc, the coming of strength and spring is celebrated. However, it is still not warm in most regions of the northern hemisphere, so outdoor activities may be limited. A walk through the snow to spot the first signs of life may be all that can occur, depending on the temperature. However, sledding, skating, skiing, or any winter activity is appropriate for this time of year.

A traditional practice is the Crown of Light. This was, quite literally, a crown of candles. This is certainly not practical for most people, and can be replaced with a circlet of flowers instead, representing the flowers of spring. Real flowers are ideal, but silk or paper flowers work just as well. Some Wiccan groups choose to use electric candles instead of real ones, and this is also acceptable.

Children can make their own candle crown with cardboard, and using cardboard candles. This should all be painted white and the crown part can be decorated with yellow and silver flowers to represent spring. Orange tissue paper can be used for the flames.

Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate this season with a powerful ritual. As Sabbats are celebratory in nature, magick is generally not worked at these rituals.

Dressing for Imbolc

Fancy dress is an excellent way to get everyone into the spirit of Imbolc. Some Wiccans feel most comfortable in their ritual robes. Others prefer simpler clothing. There is no firm rule here, but it should be something special. Traditional colors for Imbolc include red, white, yellow, and light green. These can, of course, be incorporated into dress or celebration.

Imbolc is regarded as a wonderful time of celebration for Wiccans around the world. It is a time of merriment and feasting, and a time to rejoice in the coming of spring.

The History of Magick: Magick Around the World

Magick has been practiced in all cultures and by all religions. From cave paintings to the casting of spells to elaborate church rituals, magick has been present in all civilizations, and it is still practiced today.

Magick in Ancient Times

There are many indications that magick was practiced in ancient times. For example, there are paintings in caves showing depictions of animals being chased by hunters, and often being slaughtered by them. There are many other paintings as well, showing many things. It is highly unlikely that these were simply utilized for decoration.

An array of ancient artifacts that have been discovered; many of these objects suggest that ancient societies had a sense of spiritualism and it's believed that some may have utilized magick and ritual. Small bones that represent the phases of the moon. Small carved animals that may have been worn as pendants. Skulls and other bones that have obviously been carefully arranged.

It seems likely that these had ritual or magickal significance. The magick of ancient people may have served an array of purposes, such as to honor spirits and gain their protection, to ensure a successful hunt, or to promote the fertility of both their own people and the land they relied upon. However, this is but speculation, for true evidence of this time is elusive.

Magick in Mesopotamia

The magick of Mesopotamia, including Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria, was powerful and well-respected in the ancient world. In Babylonia, for example, it's said that magicians could banish evil, heal the sick, and invoke the power of the gods.

It's believed that some of the magicians of Mesopotamia were also astrologers, and among the first to predict the future by the use of animals entrails. Many specialized in the creation of protective charms and amulets.

Magick in Ancient Egypt

The magick of the Egyptians was tied to the cycles of nature. They knew that spirits followed a cycle of life, death, and rebirth, and their magick focused on this. They used their magick to protect the body on its journey to the afterlife, and sometimes they created amulets or talismans that could take the place of a damaged organ if it was necessary.

The Egyptians has other magick as well. They firmly believed in the idea of replication magick. That is, they felt that if they created something, such as a false door, it was as effective as the real thing, since all matter was essentially spirit. The Egyptians developed a great variety of magicks, for they embraced the new, but never discarded the old.

Magick in Ancient Europe

Little in ancient Europe that was recorded. Most of what was written down was done so by the enemies of the people native to Europe, or by those of a religion so different that they couldn’t begin to understand the practices of the native people. So some of the practices of the Norsemen and the Celts may be lost to time.

Educated guesses can be made. That the Druids were well versed in plant lore seems fairly certain, as is the fact that they believed that each species of tree had a spirit and purpose. It can be assumed that the people of northern Europe also practiced magick relating to animal totems, based upon clan surnames and horned masks.

Magick in Ancient Greece and Rome

Greece was a powerful seat of science in the ancient world. And yet, its scientists firmly believed in magick as well. Some of them were even magicians themselves. They spoke of horoscopes, divination, healing, and necromancy in the same breath as logic, geometry, and architecture.

In early Rome, magick and religion were intertwined. Legionnaires would wear pendants sacred to Mars, the Roman God of War, for protection in battle. The healers of Rome often used remedies that combined herbology and the phases of the moon. Some of these were highly effective.

Magick and the Rise of the Church

Emperor Constantine of Rome converted to Christianity, and declared magick illegal throughout the Empire. This put magick, in all its various forms, in jeopardy. As this religion swept through Europe, overzealous churchmen lashed out at all who did not accept the authority of the church.

The Crusades against ‘infidels’ in the east was quickly followed by the European Inquisition. All those who were either heretics or practitioners of magick became targets. Though the practice of magick did survive, its development was severely curtailed by the policies of the Church of Rome. This continued for several hundred years.

The Rise of Magick in the Modern World

The Age of Enlightenment, during which magick had been forced into secrecy, brought about an interesting time. During the Industrial Age of the 1800s, people began looking to the mystic arts once again. New orders of Druids arose, and divination became quite fashionable. Magickal groups thrived, and orders such as the Golden Dawn quickly became well-known.

In the 1900s, after the passing of World Wars I and II, this interest in the occult intensified. A man named Gerald Gardner was reinventing magickal practice in Britain, and in doing so, created what would become modern Wicca. This quickly spread to other parts of the world, including North America. At the same time, Asatru, Druidism, Goddess spirituality, and other magickal groups appeared. These and others now make up the modern magickal community.

Magick has always existed, and has always been a part of the world. Though sometimes overshadowed by science, it is quickly becoming acceptable in the greater world community once again.

Wiccan Magick: What Magick Is and What It Is Not

There is often a great debate surrounding the idea of magick. What it is, what it isn't and how it works can be a source of contention for many practitioners. Perhaps exploring and explaining the nature of magick, at least from a Wiccan perspective, is best done by first defining what it is not.

What Magick is Not

Magick is not a stage trick. It is not an illusion. It is not seen at the local nightclub, performed by stage magicians in long black cloaks and assistant-girls in their little sequined outfits. Magick is also not ‘supernatural’ in any way, for practitioners believe that it is a part of nature, not above it. It is simply that magick is a less-understood aspect of nature.

Wiccan magick does not involve a pact with the Devil, for Wiccans do not believe in the Devil. One cannot make a pact with something that one doesn't exist, according to their belief system. Magick is not a good way to gain revenge or act unethically, for the ethics and rules of magick are strict and the consequences for misuse are swift.

Magick is not reserved for only a few special people, those who have been ‘gifted’ with its use. Anyone can learn to use magick with enough dedication, and given enough time to practice and study. Magick does not reside in tools such as athames, wands, or cauldrons. It's said that true magick lies within the practitioner, and tools only serve to enhance the practice of magick, but they are not the source of it.

In general, magick does not result in ‘special effects’ in the material world. There are no showers of golden sparks, no glowing blue balls of light, no walls of fire, and no bolts of energy flying from the ends of wands. True magick manifests itself in much less spectacular ways.

Finally, magick is not easy to learn. It requires hard work and disciple to be of any use. While magick certainly is a method for inner growth and spiritual development, using it for more mundane purposes is more complex. Magick is not a substitute for common sense or practicality.

What is Magick?

Defining magick in a spiritual context can be a little difficult. Since its definition changes over time, the problem is only compounded. A popular definition was put forth by the magician Aleister Crowley: “Magick is the art and science of causing changes to occur in conformity with will.” This is probably the most accepted spiritual definition of magick in Wiccan circles.

Though there are many kinds of magick, they can be categorized into two main types: theurgy and thaumaturgy. These two forms of magick are quite different and distinct. Essentially, theurgy involves the use of magick for religious purposes or personal development. This is generally regarded as the highest use of magick.

Theurgy is, first and foremost, serves as a method of spiritual development for the practitioner. It exists as a method of change. The end goal of this change is a heightened state of awareness, and a fuller range of possibilities. The idea of change frightens many practitioners early on, simply because they cannot predict the evolution of this practice.

Theurgy allows the practitioner to experience being a part of all that is. It is the goal of many spiritual paths to reestablish a connection with the greater universe, and theurgy is one method by which this can be accomplished.

Thaumaturgy is magick for non-religious purposes. It can be described as magick that's performed in an effort change things on the physical plane. This might include magick to heal a physical ailment, a spell to gain a job or promotion, or perhaps a spell for safe travel. This type of magick, as long as it brings harm to none, is said to be just as valid, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.

Does Magick Work?

Practitioners believe that magick does, indeed, work, but it isn’t miracle-working; it won’t just happen. When a spell or ritual is performed with the intention of producing a certain result, the individual must act in accord. This means that if one were to cast a spell to get a better job, then he or she must actively apply for better positions. Casting a healing spell, without doing anything in the physical realm to assist the effort, will likely lead to failure. It's believed that magick only works through true belief and desire, combined with common sense and practicality.

Understanding what magick is, and what it is not, is an important step to being able to use it. Magick, in its many forms, is regarded as a powerful tool for the practitioner who walks a magickal path.

Tai Chi: Some Warm-Up Tai Chi Exercises

Just like any physical activity, Tai Chi could, conceivably, cause muscle strain. Warming up before the practice of Tai Chi is recommended. Keep your back straight, and to stay relaxed and open. Do not strain or stress as you do these exercises. Do them slowly, as this will encourage precision and accuracy.

If an exercise causes pain, either stop entirely or stretch your body a little less; perhaps even reduce the number of rotations. Tai Chi shouldn’t hurt. Do not lock any of your joints while performing these exercises. Locking a joint can cause undue stress and strain, which is to be avoided at all costs.

Every Tai Chi instructor will have different exercises for warm-ups, and these should be followed. Presented here are some simple ideas that might be incorporated.

Tai Chi Warm-Up – Knee Rotations

Stand with your feet together and facing forwards. Bend over at the waist and put your hands on you knees. Bend your knees and rotate them clockwise, keeping them together. Allow your body to move naturally with the rotations. Do this for twenty rotations, then stop and go counter-clockwise, again for twenty rotations.

If you knees hurt, either stop the exercise or bend a little less. This exercise will strengthen the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage of the knee. This movement will also enhance your ability to maintain balance and stability.

Tai Chi Warm-Up – Head Rotations

Stand comfortably with your feet apart, and arms at your sides. Raise your chin to stretch your neck. Make a circle, moving your head up, then to the side, down, and finally to the other side, rotating it first clockwise for twenty rotations, then counter-clockwise for twenty more rotations.

Let the stretch relieve the tension in your neck. Stress can cause the body to tire and age unnaturally. Let the mental tension leave your body also, and let the negative thoughts go through and replace then with positive thoughts.

Tai Chi Warm-Up – Heel Stretch

Rest all of your weight on your back leg, keeping your balance with your opposite heel. Bend forwards from the waist and rotate your torso in large circles, clockwise first for twenty rotations, then counter-clockwise for another twenty rotations.

Move slowly and feel your back, stomach and sides stretch. A strong and healthy back is the key to good health. Just about every movement you make involves the back in some fashion. Switch to the other leg and repeat. Unlike most other exercises, this one has a total of eighty repetitions. This is good as it will help to strengthen your back.

Tai Chi Warm-Up – Foot Rotations

Raise one foot, keeping the opposite leg strong and steady. Rotate your leg using the knee as a pivot point, keeping the leg hanging downwards towards the bottom of your foot pointing towards the floor. Do clockwise rotations for the count of twenty, then do twenty counter-clockwise rotations. Keep the knee as stationary as possible. The larger the circle you can make with your foot, the better.

Now switch legs and repeat the warm-up exercise. This is another exercise with eighty repetitions.

Tai Chi Warm-Up – Arm Swings

Stand comfortably with your feet shoulder-width or more apart. Let your arms swing forward and back, feel parallel and pointing forwards. Let your arms swing forward and back, keeping them shoulder-width apart with your palms facing inwards.

Relax your arms and shoulders. Keep the lower back pushed out and the buttocks tucked in. Feel your neck and shoulders relax more with each swing. Feel the energy flow into your hands. Do this for twenty repetitions.

These exercises are only a suggestion of what movements might help the body to prepare for the practice of Tai Chi. There are many others that could be used. If you enjoy using a great many exercises, consider keep a chart of your progress that includes the exercises you used on a particular day.